Italy says four Italians kidnapped in Libya near Eni complex – The Malta

Four Italian construction workers have been kidnapped in Libya, the Italian foreign ministry has said.

The foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni told Italian media on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers that it was hard to speculate about who was responsible for the abduction at this stage.

A crisis team has been activated to assist and coordinate efforts to free the employees of the Bonatti construction company, who were working for Melitha Oil and Gas, the ministry said.

In February, Italy closed its embassy in Libya and advised all nationals to leave the country.

Built by Italian oil groups Eni and Agip in partnership with Libya’s state oil company NOC, Greenstream carries some 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Mellitah to Gela and then on into southern Europe.

Libya has slid into chaos since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The countrt is now bitterly divided between government cornered in the country’s east and an elected parliament and also, an Islamist militia-backed government in the west that has seized the capital of Tripoli.

Meanwhile, the United Nations envoy for Libya, has urged the Islamist-led government in Tripoli to sign a peace deal that would establish a unity government.